Refrigerating apparatus



' Patented Nov. 12, 1940 PATENT OFF-ICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Chester S. Jennings, Syracuse, and Frank W. Gerard, De Witt, NTY assignors to General Motors Corporation. Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 22, 1936; Serial No. 60,278 3 Claims. (01. 261-3) This invention relates to air or gas conditioning.

It is an object of this invention to providean apparatus for conditioning air or gas at a plurality of points of use with a circulated medium which is regenerated at a central zone or plant. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the follofiving description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings' wherein a preferred formof the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is. a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus embodying features of this invention; and A k r Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing the controls for the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

In practicing this invention, a cent a1 regenerating plant or zone is diagrammatically repre- D sented at |0.. This plant It is capable of regen-' erating a hygroscopic liquid, such as that disclosed in the patent to Francis R. Bichowsky No.

1,992,177, Feb. .26, 1935, or other hygroscopic liquids. This liquid is circulated to one or more '5 air or gas conditioning units or towersj I, I2 and |3which are adapted to condition air and deliver conditioned lair or gas through outlets H, I5 and It to places of use such as conveyors, enclosures, processing rooms or the like. ,These units are provided with inlets |'I,, l8 and I3 which receive air or gas from any suitable source, being either the outside atmosphere, the space for.

' which the air or gas is being conditioned, a combination of both, or any other desired source.

a The hygroscopic liquid is circulated by apump 2| driven by a motor 2|, and the connections are so arranged that this pump circulates the liquid to the regenerating means l0, and also to the,

The liquid going to the conditioning ll,

l2 and I3 preferably has its temperature controlled or modified-so that'the desired temperature and relative humidity characteristics are imparted to the n which is being conditioned.

This is accomplished by providing a heat interchanger, heater or cooler which imparts the desired temperature to the liquid passing from the branch 26, afterwhich the liquid is distributed by the pipes 3|, 32, 33 and 34 to the conditioning units. ,The flow of,liquid to the particular units is controlled individually by proper valves 34", 35 and 36 so that the flow of liquid is either stopped or throttled in accordance with air conditions within the enclosure which receives the. supply from each respective unit or in accordance with any other desired conditions.- The liquid after passing through units l2 and I3 is gathered respectivelyin the sunips 31, 38 and 39 and drains through the pipe '40 to the sump 22. q

The conditioning units I, I2 and I3 may be of any suitable type in which the hygroscopic liquid and the air or gas to be conditioned are contasted. The particular type diagrammatically shown includesair or gas conditioning towers 4|, 42 and 43 which are provided -with"contac t ma terial 44,- and liquid distributing rotary heads 45 which spray or distribute the liquid over the material. Air is circulated through the units by means of blowers 46 driven respectively by motors 41, 48 and 43.. I1 desired filtering material 50 is provided in each of the units.

The regenerator ll includes a heater 5| which" heats the hygroscopic liquid flowing through the branch 21 and filter 2'! and irom whence it is delivered in a heated condition through the pipe 52 tothe distributing head 53 of the regenerating tower 23. From thence it flows, in a heated con- 'dition, through contact material 54 where it is brought in contact with. air circulated by the. blower 5 5, driven by the motor 56. The hygroscopic liquid at this point gives up moisture to .the air, because of its heated condition,- and is thus regenerated to the desired degree of concen-. .tration. The air circulated through the regenerating tower may come at- 89 from any source either within or outside .of the building in which the tower is located,-and-may be discharged at 32 either within or outside the building.

The perature oi the liquid delivered to the spray ead 53 is automatically controlled by delivering steam or proper temperature or pre'ssure through the pipe 56 to the'heater 5|. The heater 5| may be of any suitable type in which pipes or the like are provided for heat exchange .0! the liquid or steam while they are kept physically separate. Any uncondensed steam flows [through the pipe. .51 "and thermostatic by-pass- 58 to the pipe 58 provided with a check valve 68 and is delivered to a steam condenser, water heater or the like. The water from the condensed steam flows through the pipe 6I| through valve 62 to any desired place by means of pipe 6211. A steam trap 63 is provided for automatically discharging'any condensed water from pipe 58 to the pipe 62a. I

Automatic controls are provided. Thus control switches or the ,like 18, H and 12 are provided I3 respectively. These switches may be made responsive to relative humidity alone, to dry bulb temperature alone. to wet bulb temperature alone, or to a combination ofall of these functions so as to be responsive to effective temperatures." These switches may be placed within the space for which the air is conditioned, or at any other suitable place, such as at the discharge ducts I4, I5 and I6, or atthe intake ducts I1, I8 and I8. When there is a demand for conditioned air or gas by the switch 18,"

suitable contacts therein are closed so that curthe switch 18, at the same time energizing the solenoid valve 34 and the blower motor 41, if desired. It is: understood, however,-that the blower motor 41 may be operated all of the time by placing it across the lines 13, 14, and that the switch 18. when the switch 10 closes,,the relay 15 is energized also. and this closes the contacts 16 which energizes the motor 2I or the pump 28. Likewise, when the switch 1H 'isenergized the solenoid valve 85 is energized, and if desired the blower motor 48. it being understood that this motor may be operated alsoall the time if desired merely by. placing it across the I lines 13 and 14. When switch 1| closes, the relay 18 is energized thus closing the contacts 19 and likewise energizing the motor 2| if the same' has not already been energized by the relay 15. Likewise, the switch 12 may energize the solenoid valve 36 and, it desired,the blower motor 88, 4 it being understood that this motor may also operate all the time. At the same time, the relay 88 may be energized thus closing the contacts BI and thus energizing the motor 2| if the same has not already been energized by the relays 15 From the above it will'be seen that whenever any one of the switches '18-, H or 12 are actuated by air conditions to close their contacts, they cause the operation of their respective conditi nmg units by causing hygroscopic liquid to ow 'to their corresponding air or gas conditioning units II, I2 or l3, and if desired also controlling to control the operation of the units II, I2 and rent flows from the line 18 to the line H through the solenoid valve 34 only may be controlled byof cooling of the hygroscopic liquid. Thus the the operation of the respective blowers 46. The

switches also cause operation oi-the pump 28 as long as demand for conditioned air exists in anyone of the conditioning units.

Means are provided for causing operationoi the regenrating unit whenever the condition of the hygroscopic liquid requires regeneration while there is demand for air or gas conditioning. For thispurpose a bleeder pipe 82 is provided which discharges into the sump. This sump is provided with .an overflow at 83 and a relatively small drain at 84. The drain at 84 is so'regulated that it has'less capacity than the flow through the pipe 82 so that the sump tends to be filled up to the overflow 83 aslong as liquid issupplied at 82; but automatically drains wheneverthe supply at 82 is cut oil A hydrostatic float 85 is placed in the sump -pensate for this.

28 and this actuatw the switches 86 and 81. Whenever the liquid becomes diluted to the point where regeneration is required, the float 85 closes the switch 86. While the sump 28 is full, the switch 81 is so calibrated that it is in its '5 closed position at all possible positions of the float 85 and opens only when the sump is drained. Under such circumstances when the sump is full and regeneration is required by the condition of the liquid a circuit is established in series through the switches 81 and 86 to the solenoid valve 88, which controls the flow of steam to the heater 5I, and to the motor 56 which drives the Ian 55.

that whenever demand for conditioned air actuates any one of the switches 18, H or 12, the pump 28 starts'and circulates liquid to the respective conditioning units II, I2 or I3, at the same time circulating liquid to the sump 28 in sufficient quantities to till the same to the overflow 83. If the liquid is sufficiently strong, the float 85 attains a position so that the switch 86 is open and no regeneration takes place. if, on the other hand, the liquid requires regeneration, the float 85 closes the switch 86 as well as the switch 81 and starts the regenerating operation. Whenever all of the conditioning units II, I2 or I3 are cut 011 by their respective control switches, the pump 28 stops because all of the relays 15, 18 and 88 are deenergized, and this permits the sump 28 to drain at 88, thus causing the float 85 to sink to such an extent that the switch 81 is'opened. Under such circumstances, no regeneration can take place until such time as there is demand for conditioned air.

If desired, the operation of the heat modifier or cooler 38 may be made dependent on a thermostatic switch I88 which energizes the solenoid valve I8I whenever the temperature of the liquid at bulb I88a requires it. The valve I8I controls the flow of water or other cooling fluid through pipe 380 and thus regulates the amount temperature of the liquid supplied to the conditioners is maintained at a predetermined degree. The switch I88 and valve I8l may be placed in serieswith the relays 15, 18 and 88 so that water flow occurs only when there is demand for air or gas conditioning.

As the demand for liquid by the air conditioners II, I2 and I3 may cause differentvolumetric flows o1 liquid in pipe 21, a by-pass I83 may be provided with. a pressure regulating valve I84. This by-pass is adapted to permit liquid to flow from the discharge side of the pump 28 to its intake side, and is adapted to maintain a constant discharge pressure on the pump. Thus whenever one or more-oi the air conditioners II, I2 or l3 are cut oil, a corresponding amount of liquid is by-passed from the discharge to the intake of the pump 28-, as the pressure responsive valve I88 automatically opens a suiiicient amount to com- Suitable hand valves I85 may be provided for regulating or disconnecting various parts of the system .and various check valves I88 may also be provided as required. The strainer 21a may be provided with a clean-out valve I81.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,'constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

' gas conditioning towers and to -What is claimed is as follows:- 1. Gonditioning apparatus including a pluralit of gas conditioning contact towers, a liquid 5 heater, a liquid regenerating contact tower, a

pump having an intake connected to said regenerating tower and discharge branches to said said liquid heater,

cooling-means for the'liquid discharged to said gas conditioning towers, a discharge from said heater to said regenerating contact tower, individual controls for said gas conditioning contact towers, an automatic control for said pump starta ing said pump whenever any one of said gas conditioning towers operates and stopping said pump whenever all of said gas conditioning contact towersare idle, and means whereby said heater I and said cooling means are rendered ineffective when said gas conditioning towers are idle.

2. Conditioning apparatus including a plurality of gas conditioning contact towers, a liquid heater, a liquid regenerating contact tower, a pump having an intake connected to said regenerating tower and discharge branches tosaid .gas conditioning towers and to said liquid heater, and a discharge from said heater to said regencrating contact tower, individual automatic controls for said gas conditioning contact towers, and an automatic control for said pump starting said pump whenever any one of said gas conditioning towers operates and stopping said pump whenever all of said gas conditioning contact towers are idle.

3. Conditioning apparatus including a plurality of gas conditioning contact towers, individual controls for controlling the conditioning by said towers, a liquid heater, a liquid regenerating contact tower, a control sump, a pump for causing circulation of a hygroscopic liquid from said regenerating tower to said conditioning towers in parallel, and to said liquid heater and said regenerating contact tower in series, a hydrostat controlling the operation of said regenerating quantity of liquid in said sump, means for energizing said pump whenever one or more of said towers is required to operate, and'means rendering said hydrostat inoperative whenever said tower in accordance with the concentration and 

